The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1887-03-03
INTERSTATE COMMERCE.
THE RAILROAD AUTHORITIES AT LAST
DEFINE THE LAW.

CHICAGO March 2-The general passenger
agents OF the various roads in the South
western Passenger association have just sub
mitted to the general managers their report
regarding the Interpretation and application
Of the Interstate commerce law as relating to
passenger traffic. The recommendations
made as regards the future conduct of the
traffic by those roads will have yet to be rati-
fed by the general managers. AS the West
ern and Northwestern Passenger association,
as we'll as the passenger department of che
Central Traffic association, have recon-
mended the adoption of substantially the
same method for doing the business under
the new law, the report is Of more than or
dinary interest.
The main difficulties, the report says, en-
countered in giving practical effect to the
best features Of the law are found in Section
p. In relation to the proviso therein that,
"Nothing in this act shall apply to the is
suance Of mileage, excursion or Communication
passenger tickets" the view of the general
passenger agents is that this simply means In
regards to these tickets the rates for the same
are not required to be published, as in the
case of the regular local tariff, and that they
may lie changed from time without the re-
quired notice.
For more definite and concise consideration
the subject has been divided into the follow
ing he DIS: What does the law specifically
require to be done by common carriers SUBJ
ject to its provisionsl What is inferentially
permitte and consistent and not forbiddenl
What does the law specifically forbid2 What
does the law inferentially forbid; is believed
to be inconsistent; or is not desirable to be
done! The report says:
In regard to the first question, it requires
that business carried within the United
States or territories to or from adjacent for
eign countries, shall be amenable to the same
rules as apply on interstate business. All
charges made for any service shall be reason
able and just. For like and contempora-
neous service, and for transportation of like
kind of traffic under substantially similar
circumstances and conditions, a like charge
shall be made It requires that every COM
mon carrier shall print in large type, or at
least the size Of ordinary plea, and keep for
public inspection in every depot or station,
schedules showing the rates Of fare for trans
portation Of passengers and property, plainly
stating the places upon the railroad between
which passengers and property will be car
ried. 1t requires ten days notice Of any
advance in rates.
reductions may be made without pre5is
Gus public notice, but when made notice
shall be Immediately publicly posted Every
common carrier shall file its tariffs with the
commission, and shall promptly notify the
commission of all changes made in same
Every common carrier shall file with the
commission copies of all the contracts, agree
ments or arrangements with other common
carriers and joint tariffs, which shall be pub
lished when directed by the commission,
which is to prescribe the measure of pub
licity.
st authorizes the commission to require
annual reports For example, the Chicago &
Northwestern is not required to publish rates
from its stations to points on the Chicago, St.
Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha. Competing
lines are not compelled to interchange bust
ness from common point to point local to
one of them, and on which that one would
otherwise get the entire haul Provided,
however, that if such connecting link re-
ceives business from one connecting it must
not discriminate against other sections.
Regarding subject No. 2 the law infer
entially permits first, second and third (emi-
grant classes Of passengers if the accommo-
dations are as varied as the classes Children
under five years of age, accompanied by
parents or guardians, may be carried free;
children of five or under twelve years Of age
may be carried at half fare. It inferentially
permits special additional charges for special
trains or other unusual service. 1t infer.
tn oI,
upon restricted availab ity of the ticket. 1t
inferentially permits tn issuance of mileag Q,
excursion or accommodation passenger tick
OTIS, but does not permit discrimination in
favor of any person.
"For example, rates made in favor of any
organized body, religious, secular secret,
Otc., must be contemporaneously available to
any person. 1t permits reduced rates to
ministers of religion and free transportation
to railroad employees. AS the greater includes
the less, it also inferentially permits the issue
Of reduced rates to railway employees The
question Of passes or re luced rates for the
families of railroad employees is referred to
the general managers for determination.
Mileage tickets may be sold at any rate not
greater than the legal fare that the common
carrier may elect to charge, but they cannot
be sold at different rates to different individ-
uals or firms. The general passenger agents
recommend that if thousand mile tickets are
sold, they must be sold to every person at the
same price, and shall be at the uniform rate
Of two and one-half cents per mile
Regarding subject three, the law forbids
special rates, rebates, drawbacks, or any
other device whereby a rate can be reduced
or increased to work discrimination against
any person. 1t forbids any undue or unrea-
sonable preferences to any person, company,
firm, corporation or locality. It forbids
greater compensation for shorter than
longer haul over the same line and in the
same direction. It only inferentially permits
giving reduced rates to ministers of religion,
but clearly forbids reduction in rates or free
transportation to any class in which would
be included the following; Theatrical com.
panies, base ball players, bicyclists, theatri
cal advance agents, students, laborers lum-
bermen, Indians, United States officers and
soldiers or their families, inmates Of national
homes Of disabled volunteer soldiers, city
police, members of the press las courtesiesl, |
hotel employees, freight shippers, charity |
cases, dumb or blind people, temperance peo- |
pie, etc. The general passenger agent sug-
gested to the general managers for consider |
alton whether some of the most worthy of |
these cases cannot be continued and reserved |
for adjustment under the direction of the |
The whole report contains twelve pages of !
printed foolscap, but the above extracts con.
tain about all that is Of general public inter. |
est
Flremen Injured at Fire.
CHICAGO, March 2.-The Windsor Folding
bed Company's building, at 497 to sos West ,
Kinzie street, was burned early this morning.
The building composed largely of wood. was